89 Days

There are 89 days until
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

On the 11th hour of the 11th day
We shall pause to pray
For those who put on the uniform
And stood against the wolves
At our door.

Your fathers and grandfathers too
Put on the uniform
And stood beside
A flag of red, white and blue.

Every day we lose
Another fine young man
Who put on the uniform.
He dies
In a fire fight,
Roadside bomb
Or rocket attack
In the middle of the night.

I ask you
To open up the photo album.
Dust off that gold framed picture,
Open your wallet
To a faded smiling portrait.
Look at the uniform,
Commitment, and American steel
And thank them for what they do.

Does a man in uniform
Waving the Star Spangled Banner
Still inspire you?
If not then pause
And think what freedom
Truly means to you!

On the 11th hour of the 11th day

My family and I pause to pray
For those who still put on the uniform
And stand against the wolves
Who again prowl at our door.

There are 89 days until
Tuesday, November 11, 2008.

_____________________________

Lou, a Christian grateful for Jesus’ gift to him, was born and raised in the western hills of Maine, then spent 20 plus years wandering the country and world in the United States Air Force. Maine Department of American Legion’s Historian, he is a photographer and stringer for The Maine Trust for Local News, published poet and short story writer who pens faith-based devotionals. He lives in Rumford, Maine. He is author of an anthology of poems based upon his military career entitled: Dimly Seen Through The Mists, and a book of faith-based poems entitled: My Lighthouse In Troubled Times, available through Pen It! Publications. He can be reached at mbsphotog@yahoo.com or his Facebook Page.